Music library survey (2 minutes) – for users of Roon, Tidal, Qobuz, Plex, etc.

[dam775]

Hello everyone,

I’m researching how music listeners manage their libraries across different streaming platforms and local collections.

Many of us use combinations like Qobuz, Tidal, Apple Music, Roon, Plex, or local files, and it can sometimes become difficult to keep a consistent library (metadata differences, duplicate releases, disappearing albums, etc.).

I created a short survey (about 2 minutes) to better understand how people currently manage their music libraries and what the biggest frustrations are.

Survey link:
https://forms.gle/i8RawsWnCREc64xy7

The goal is to learn from real users and explore ideas for improving how music libraries work across platforms.

If you’re interested, you can also optionally leave your email to participate in early testing of new tools for music library management.

Thank you for your time and feedback.
Damian

 

[Soandso]

I subscribe to Deezer (get annual discount) which facilitates my (free) transfer of music playlists I may create on some other streaming systems I no longer pay for premium rights. On Deezer I periodically open a playlist and use the option to "Sort" my playlists by "title" (A-Z).

Then scrolling through I will see duplicate songs by the same artist I unintentionally included as well as any duplicates of the same song by other artists/assemblages. This is an easy way to cull ("remove from playlist") unwanted duplicates.

At the same time the songs Deezer no longer hosts show up in faint print and I cull those as well, because if playlist set on "shuffle" when hits a non-hosted song I get dead air. In addition Deezer plan allows "downloaded" for off-line listening which I've done for some if my playlists. Those downloaded songs show up systemwide with a "green" mark alongside them and when reviewing other playlists I'm aware that song is elsewhere should I want to cull via "remove from playlist" option.

I'd say my Deezer playlists currently encompass over 20,000 songs and since there are live performances included it seems as if that's enough to play a new song for every second over a month and a half. Some content was found on other streaming services and transferred (free) to my Deezer account, there I created a new work-in-progress playlist for the imported content. I don't try to filter out any content before transferring it to Deezer.

Next using "sort" (by title or artist) I played a bit or more (frequently more than once) of each potentially interesting song and culled ('remove from playlist") each unwanted song, over time keeping what I liked in the work-in-progress playlist. When I got around to it I'd "add to playlist" into one of my existing title playlist a new favored song(s), Deezer playlists each hold about 2,000 songs before full.

Over time my existing playlists have filled and so newly desired content remaining in an originally work-in-progress playlist has itself become a full fledged new playlist. This then is the playlist where my next selection of desirable songs' can be added out of my latest work-in-progress playlist (and so on).

Any new work-in-progress playlist culling of unwanted songs is done over months at my convenience. First summarily getting rid of any content I do not want, then going back over the remaining songs for a 2nd selection before finally satisfied I want to keep any specific song. When importing content to my Deezer account I arrange it in more than one new Deezer work-in-progress playlists (plural) which containing relatively sparse content is easier to go through when have spare time.

 

[jhaider]

You missed the only thing that really annoys me: no way to at a glance identify Spatial Audio (Atmos) albums.

 

[Sammy77]

This is a great subject, it’s on my to do list. Haven’t gotten around to researching which one will work best. My Dac has a bridge which I haven’t used yet, from what I hear the combination of Dac+Bridge+high-resolution music management and streaming software, really sharper the music and helps your tunes sound better, is this true ?¿?¿??!

 

[monkeyboy]

I don't stream, and use Linux with MP w/ ncmpcpp or Exaile

 

[2tec]

Me, I use foobar2000 to both manage and play my music. Foobar's extensibility has allowed me to develop a deep and sophisticated library management system.

 

[Super Panda]

Thanks for the survey! What are your intentions and how are you planning on implementing results?
My main gripe currently is the lack of grouping, filtering and categorisation of artists and albums (Tidal). As an album-based listener, I consider playlists rather limited..

 

[Timcognito]

sorry no explanation of who you are, what you are going to do with the data, if you going to share results and the survey requires a sign in. I use a NAS w/1300 releases, dBpoweramp, internet radio, Roon, Qobuz and find a lot new music from https://kcsm.org and https://kfjc.org/music. That is best I can do for you. I do not post or have accounts at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, X, YouTube TicToc or anything like that. Good luck on your phishing expedition.

 

[dam775]

Thanks for the survey! What are your intentions and how are you planning on implementing results?
My main gripe currently is the lack of grouping, filtering and categorisation of artists and albums (Tidal). As an album-based listener, I consider playlists rather li

there are some ideas that I'm working out, nothing clear yet but something around a layer on top streaming services (1 or more) that allow people like us to curate a proper music collection. thx !

 

[dam775]

sorry no explanation of who you are, what you are going to do with the data, if you going to share results and the survey requires a sign in. I use a NAS w/1300 releases, dBpoweramp, internet radio, Roon, Qobuz and find a lot new music from https://kcsm.org and https://kfjc.org/music. That is best I can do for you. I do not post or have accounts at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, X, YouTube TicToc or anything like that. Good luck on your phishing expedition.

hi Timcognito, I'm nobody ... hahaha. Just a guy struggling with music library management, an idea and nothing more. I've corrected the survey so you don't need to login, it was pointed out in another forum and I realized that a configuration setting in the google forms was forcing that (which was not my intention). You can now safely complete the survey if you like, no need to provide contact info at all. Thanks!

 

[Timcognito]

hi Timcognito, I'm nobody ... hahaha. Just a guy struggling with music library management, an idea and nothing more. I've corrected the survey so you don't need to login, it was pointed out in another forum and I realized that a configuration setting in the google forms was forcing that (which was not my intention). You can now safely complete the survey if you like, no need to provide contact info at all. Thanks!

Okay thanks for update. Maybe I'm paranoid but I view Facebook, Instagram, TicTok etc as well as most AI LLM's as data mining to create proprietary data bases that will be not shared but will be monetized. So will you share the summary of what you find in a way to let others see where they on the global landscape without hurting your own chances for success. As a veteran of nine medical device startups success is often valued by the money they make by being sold but the fact is that companies are not sold but they are bought for the proprietary niches they fill. Patent anything you think novel.

 

[dam775]

Okay thanks for update. Maybe I'm paranoid but I view Facebook, Instagram, TicTok etc as well as most AI LLM's as data mining to create proprietary data bases that will be not shared but will be monetized. So will you share the summary of what you find in a way to let others see where they on the global landscape without hurting your own chances for success. As a veteran of nine medical device startups success is often valued by the money they make by being sold but the fact is that companies are not sold but they are bought for the proprietary niches they fill. Patent anything you think novel.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Vincent Kars]

Pretty silly survey. I answered that I don't use streaming. Then I am forced to answer questions about streaming services.

 

[whereisbrian]

I don't use any streaming services and that won't change.

 

[Sammy77]

I don't use any streaming services and that won't change.

Well the enjoyment comes from the experience of viewing the artist information on your pad while listening from what I hear , there’s usually artist information and pictures!!!! That’s why it’s on my to do list of organizing my music in general.